Weft-replenishing loom.



' I E. D. OSGOOD.& A. E. RHOADES. WEFT REPLENISHING LOQM;

APPLIOATION FILED APR.25, 190s.

ZZ/z'tn eases M Ina/622M713 PETER-i L31, umsmudwu Patented Oct. 18,1910.

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EDWARD DANA OSGOOD AND ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF I-IOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNOBS TO DRAPEB, COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA-'IION 0F MAINE.

WEFT-REPLENISHING LOOM.

stituting a fresh weft-carrier (bobbin, copspindle or the like) for thespent weft-carrier in the working shuttle, it is important that theshuttle should be correctly located I with respect to the incoming freshweft-carrier at the time replenishment is to take place. Heretoforeweft-replenishing looms of this character have been provided with ashuttle-feeler which renders the transferring mechanism inactive in casethe shuttle is misplaced too far inwardly toward the middle f the loomwhen a change of weft-can riers is called; and an inclined bridge withinthe shuttle has been employed to secure proper registration between theshuttle and the incoming weft-carrier in case the shuttle is misplacedtoo far outwardly away from the middle of the loom, this latterexpedient being open to some objection on account of the occasionalbreakage of weft-carriers due thereto. The object of the presentinvention is t provide mechanism operatively connected with thetransferrer mechanism for correctly and positively locating the shuttlewith respect to the holder for the spare weft-carrier next to beinserted in case the shuttle is misplaced too far outwardly away fromthe middle of the loom.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein: V

Figure l is a view of the inner end of a portion of the magazine of aweft-replenishing loom illustrating the improved mechanism in connectiontherewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the transferrer and the connectedactuating devices. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections of portions ofthe magazine or spare weft-carrier holder showing the improved shuttleplacer in two different positions. Fig. 1 is on a smaller scale than theremaining figures.

The drawings illustrate so much of the mechanism of the well-knownNorthrop or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 25, 1908.

Patented 0011. 1S, 1910.

Serial No. 429,231.

Draper loom (illustrated, for example, in United States Letters PatentNo. 529,940, November 27, 1894:) as is necessary for an understanding ofthe present improvement.

A, is a portion of the framework of the replenishing side of the loom;B, is a selfthreading shuttle having weft-carrier holding spring jaws a,C, is a weft-carrier having projecting annular rings 2), cooperatingwith the spring jaws a, D, is a portion of the holder for the spareweft-carriers, such holder being a rotary magazine in the Draper loom;E, is the fixed stand support ing the holder; F, is the transferrerwhich, when a change of weft-carriers is called, descends and forces thefresh weft-carrier occupying the active or transferring position intothe shuttle and concurrently ejecting downwardly the spent weft-carrier;and G is the shuttle-feeler which, in case the shuttle is misplacedinwardly and too near the middle of the loom when replenishment iscalled, encounters the shuttle and prevents the action of thetransferrer. The shuttle-feeler is simply indicated in Fig. 4:. It maybe arranged to operate as in United States Letters Patent No. 664,7 90,December 25, 1900. All of these parts cooperate in the same way as inthe Draper loom.

The added parts illustrated in the drawings relate to the devices formoving the shuttle longitudinally into correct position relatively tothe fresh weft-carrier next to be supplied in case the shuttle is toofar out; that is, away from the middle of the loom, at the moment whenatransfer of weft-carriers is to take place. These added parts areoperatively connected with the transferrer and act to move the shuttlelengthwise and inwardly to a definite and proper position with respectto the weft-carrier holder and to the incoming weftcarrier. As shown inthe drawings there is a shuttle placer H, which is pivotally connectedto the stand E, so as to swing lengthwise of the shuttle. It has at itslower end a finger c, which is adapted to enter into the top of theshuttle and to encounter a shoulder 03, thereon. Normally, the shuttleplacer occupies the elevated position shown in Fig. 8; being maintainedtherein by the elevating spring I, the finger a, being then above andout of the path of the shuttle. When, however, a transfer ofweft-carriers is to be made, the shuttle placer descends so that itsfinger enters the top of the shuttle, and the shuttle placer then swingsinwardly away from the stand E, a definite determined distance, and msuch movement the finger c, encounters the shoulder (Z, of the shuttleand moves the shuttle lengthwise toward the feeler G, so as to bring theshuttle into a definlte relation with respect to the holder D, and theincoming fresh Weft-carrier. This inward lengthwise movement of theshuttle only occurs in case the shuttle has been moved outwardly beyondthe position shown in Fig. 4. If the shuttle should occupy a positiontoo far 1nwardly when a transfer is to take place) to receive t eincoming weft-carrier, the shuttle-feeler G, would encounter the shuttleand prevent a transfer being made.

The shuttle placer, it will be noted, has both an up and down and aswinging movement. To allow this it has a pivoting stud e projecting inboth directions, as shown in Fig. 1, and entering in vertical guidlngslots 7 in the stand H. The downward movement of the shuttle placer iscaused by a pusher J which encounters ashoulder g of the shuttle placer;and the swing of the shuttle placer is caused by an actuator K whichenters a cam-shaped slot h in the shuttle placer. The actuator K is aswinging arm rigidly secured to the transferrer F so as to swingconcurrently therewith on the same axis 2'. The pusher J is pivoted atm, to the actuator K and is yieldingly connected with the transferrer bymeans of lug s, on the transferrer, headed pin t, passing through saidlug, collar a, fast to said pin, and spring L interposed between thesaid lug s and the outer end of the pusher J.

When the transferrer descends to insert a fresh weft-carrier into theshuttle, the pusher and actuator swing with it, their inner endsswinging downwardly. During this downward movement the pusher comes intocontact with the shoulder g and during the preliminary downward movementbefore the shoulder is encountered the actuator moves idly in thevertical portion of the slot 71. The pusher, actuator and shuttle-placerthen descend concurrently until the further descent of the shuttleplacer is prevented by its finger 0, encountering a horizontal plate as,of the shuttle. Thereafter, the actuator continues to descend, enteringthe inclined portion of the slot 71,, thereby causing the shuttle placerto swing inwardly away from the stand E, and hence to move the shuttleto the proper position. During this final move ment of the actuator K,the pusher J does not swing, this differential movement being permittedby the elastic connection between the transferrer and the pusher whichinvolves the spring L. This insures the shuttle occupying a properposition with respect to the incoming weft-carrier to correctly receivethe same between its spring jaws h.

During the final downward movement of the pusher J, it travels throughthe lower part of the slot h, which lower part is then vertical. Hence,the shuttle is brought to its position before the fresh weft-carrierencounters the holding jaws a, of the shuttle.

When the transferrer resumes its normal elevated position the actuatorand pusher rise to their normal elevated position and the spring Irestores the shuttle placer to. its elevated position shown in Fig. 3.

This mechanism provides a positive mechanism for moving the shuttlelengthwise and inwardly when said mechanism is operatively connected andactuated by the transferrer, thereby insuring proper coordinationbetween the placing of the shuttle and the insertion of the freshweft-carrier.

What we claim is 1. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, aholder for a spare weft-carrier; a transferrer to transfer the spareweft -carrier from the holder to the working shuttle; a rising, fallingand swinging shuttle placer having a cam slot and a finger adapted toenter the shuttle and encounter a shoulder thereof; a spring tending tolift the shuttle placer; a swinging pusher yieldingly connected to thetransferrer to move said shuttle placer downwardly; and an actuatorconnected with said transferrer and entering the cam-slot of saidshuttle placer.

2. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a holder for a spareweft-can rier; a transferrer for transferring said weft-carrier into theworking shuttle on the loom; a vertically moving shuttle placer adaptedto swing lengthwise of the shuttle; and connecting mechanism betweensaid placer and transferrer whereby when the transferrer acts the placerdescends into operative relation with the shuttle and swings inwardly tomove the shuttle inwardly should the shuttle be displaced too faroutwardly.

3. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a holder for a spareweft-carrier; a transferrer for transferring said weft-carrier into theworking shuttle on the loom; a vertically moving shuttle placer adaptedto swing lengthwise of the shuttle; and mechanism causing the placer todescend into operative relation with the shuttle and to swing inwardlyto move the shuttle inwardly.

1. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a holder for a spareweft-carrier; a transferrer for transferring said weft-carrier into theworking shuttle on the loom; a shuttle placer carried by a fixed part ofthe loom and adapted to swing lengthwise of the shuttle; and connectingmechanism independent of the spare weft-carrier between said placer andtransferrer whereby when the transferrer acts the placer swings inwardlyto engage the shuttle and move it inwardly.

5. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a holder for a spareweft-carrier; a transferrer for transferring said weft-carrier into theworking shuttle on the loom; a shuttle placer carried by a fixed part ofthe loom and adapted to engage the shuttle and to move it lengthwise;and connecting mechanism independent of the spare weft-carrier betweensaid placer and transferrer whereby when the transferrer acts the placerengages the shuttle and moves it into position.

6. A weft-replenishing loom having, in combination, a holder for a spareweft-carrier; a transferrer to transfer the spare weft-carrier from theholder to the working shuttle, a shuttle placer carried by a fixed partof the loom and adapted to move the shuttle lengthwise, and connectingmechanism independent of the spare weft-carrier between said placer andtransferrer whereby when the transferrer acts the placer engages theshuttle and moves it into position before the fresh weft-carrier iscompletely inserted within the shuttle.

7 In a loom provided with mechanism to insert automatically a freshbobbin in the working shuttle when replenishment of the running weft iscalled for, in combination, a shuttle-positioning device located abovethe shuttle path, and means to actuate the device independently of thebobbin about to be inserted in the shuttle, to descend into and engageand move the shuttle inward, when necessary, into bobbin-receivingposition.

8. In a loom provided with mechanism to insert automatically a freshbobbin in the working shuttle when replenishment of the running weft iscalled for, in combination, a shuttle-positioning device to enter anddirectly engage the shuttle, and means, governed by the operation ofsaid mechanism, to actuate the shuttle-positioning device prior to theinsertion of a bobbin in the shuttle and independently of the bobbinabout to be inserted, said positioning device when so actuated enteringthe shuttle to cooperate directly therewith before the bobbin enters theinterior of the shuttle.

In testimony whereof we affiX our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD DANA OSGOOD. ALONZO E. RHOADES. lVitnesses FRANK H. FRENCH,ALBERT W. EDWARDS.

